Napoli/New York/Hollywood: Film between Italy and the United States

Napoli/New York/Hollywood explores the significant impact that Italian immigrant actors, musicians, and directors have had on the history of Hollywood cinema and American media from 1895 to the present day. It looks at the transnational communication between the American and Italian film industries and the cultural work of families and generations of artists that have contributed to American film culture. The author associates southern Italian culture with modernity and the immigrants preservation of cultural traditions with innovations in production and media technologies.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 384 pages
Publication date: 30 October 2018
Publisher: Fordham University Press

Napoli/New York/Hollywood is a captivating exploration that delves into the profound influence of Italian immigrant actors, musicians, and directors, along with the southern Italian theatrical traditions they embodied, on the history of Hollywood cinema and American media from 1895 to the present day. Through a unique examination of the transnational exchange between the American and Italian film industries, media, and performing arts as practiced in Naples, New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, this groundbreaking book offers a fresh perspective on the historical context and institutional film history, focusing on the experiences and perspectives of the performers themselves—the workers who lend their bodies and performance culture to screen representations. By doing so, the author sheds light on the cultural contributions of families and generations of artists, not only to American film culture but also to the cultural construction and evolution of "Italian-ness" over the past century.

Napoli/New York/Hollywood makes a significant contribution to our understanding of the role of southern Italian culture in American cinema, spanning from the silent era to contemporary films. The author employs a provocative interdisciplinary approach, linking southern Italian culture with modernity and the immigrants' ability to preserve cultural traditions alongside innovations in production and media technologies. Each chapter synthesizes a wealth of previously under-studied material, showcasing the author's exceptional ability to address transnational cinematic issues within a historical context. For instance, her analysis of the period from the end of World War I to the beginning of sound in film production in the late 1920s provides valuable insights.

In conclusion, Napoli/New York/Hollywood is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of culture, cinema, and immigration. Through its comprehensive analysis and insightful perspectives, the book offers a valuable contribution to our understanding of the historical and cultural significance of Italian immigrant actors, musicians, and directors in shaping the history of Hollywood cinema and American media.

Weight: 676g
Dimension: 178 x 253 x 36 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780823279388